Engine driven heat pump

ABSTRACT

Regarding an engine driven heat pump in which an engine, a compressor, a refrigerant circuit, and a generator are stored in a main body package, an engine actuation battery to actuate the engine, a battery charging circuit to charge the engine actuation battery, and an inverter to convert output power from the generator into a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency are stored in a separate body package, which is a separate body with respect to the main body package, and a front surface and a back surface of the separate body package is made up of an area in such a manner as to fit in a side surface of the main body package, and the separate body package is provided on a side surface near to the generator, out of side surfaces of the main body package and supported by the main body package.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE REGARDING APPLICATION AND PRIORITY

This nonprovisional application claims priority under U.S.C. 119(a) onPatent Application No. 2013-193236 filed in Japan on Sep. 18, 2013, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an engine driven heat pump in whichheat exchange is performed by use of a refrigerant, which is sucked anddischarged by a compressor driven by an engine, thereby flowing througha refrigerant circuit.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, it has been known that a generator is mounted in theengine driven heat pump in which heat exchange is performed by use of arefrigerant, which is sucked and discharged by a compressor driven bythe engine, thereby flowing through a refrigerant circuit (see, forexample, Japanese Patent No. 4682558).

Japanese Patent No. 4682558 discloses that the engine driven heat pump,in which the generator is mounted, is used as a power supply device atthe time of power failure.

However, although Japanese Patent No. 4682558 discloses that the enginedriven heat pump, in which the generator is mounted, is used as thepower supply device at the time of power failure, Patent Document 1fails to disclose any specific mounting constitution of membersconstituting a self-sustaining power supply device that includes anengine actuation battery, which is required for the actuation of theengine at the time of power failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an engine driven heat pump, in which agenerator is mounted, the engine driven heat pump that is used as apower supply device at the time of power failure, which provides thespecific mounting constitution of members constituting a self-sustainingpower supply device that includes an engine actuation battery, which isrequired for the actuation of an engine.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an engine driven heatpump includes an engine, a compressor configured to be driven by theengine, a refrigerant circuit configured to flow a refrigerant suckedand discharged by the compressor, a generator configured to be driven bythe engine, a main body package configured to store the engine, thecompressor, the refrigerant circuit, and the generator, an engineactuation battery configured to actuate the engine, a battery chargingcircuit configured to charge the engine actuation battery, and aninverter configured to convert output power from the generator into apredetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency, a separate bodypackage configured to store the engine actuation battery, the batterycharging circuit, and the inverter, the separate body package being aseparate body with respect to the main body package, wherein a frontsurface and a back surface of the separate body package is made up of anarea in such a manner as to fit in a side surface of the main bodypackage, and the separate body package is provided on a side surfacenear to the generator, out of side surfaces of the main body package andsupported by the main body package.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a mode can beexemplified where the engine and the generator, and the refrigerantcircuit are separated in such a manner as be arranged right and leftviewed from a front surface of the main body package.

According to the aspects of the present invention, with respect to theengine driven heat pump in which a generator is mounted, the enginedriven heat pump is used as a power supply device at the time of powerfailure and can provide the specific mounting constitution of membersconstituting a self-sustaining power supply device that includes anengine actuation battery, which is required for the actuation of anengine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one example of a heatexchange system including an engine driven heat pump according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating the schematic constitution of theengine driven heat pump illustrated in FIG. 1 in a state where theexterior cover of a separate body package is detached.

FIG. 2B is a front view illustrating the schematic constitution of theengine driven heat pump illustrated in FIG. 1 in the state where theexterior cover of the separate body package is detached.

FIG. 2C is a right side view illustrating the schematic constitution ofthe engine driven heat pump illustrated in FIG. 1 in the state where theexterior cover of the separate body package is detached.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the schematic constitution ofthe engine driven heat pump illustrated in FIG. 1 in a state where theexterior cover of a main body package and the exterior cover of theseparate body package are detached.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the schematic constitution ofthe engine driven heat pump illustrated in FIG. 1 in the state where theexterior cover of the main body package and the exterior cover of theseparate body package are detached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedreferring to drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one example of a heatexchange system 500 including an engine driven heat pump 100 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention.

The heat exchange system 500 illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided in such amanner that a refrigerant is circulated through a refrigerantcirculation path 300 while a state where the refrigerant is decompressedand brought down to a low temperature and a state where the refrigerantis pressurized and brought up to a high temperature are alternated bymeans of the engine driven heat pump 100.

The refrigerant circulation path 300 includes a first refrigerantcircuit 310 (one example of a refrigerant circuit) provided in theengine driven heat pump 100 (an outdoor unit constituting an airconditioner in the example), a second refrigerant circuit 320 providedin a heat exchange unit 200 (an indoor unit constituting the airconditioner in the example), a third refrigerant circuit 330 with whichthe first refrigerant circuit 310 and the second refrigerant circuit 320are communicated, a first heat exchanger 340 provided in the enginedriven heat pump 100 and interposed in the first refrigerant circuit310, a second heat exchanger 350 provided in the heat exchange unit 200and interposed in the second refrigerant circuit 320, and an expansionvalve 360 interposed in the refrigerant circuit (the first refrigerantcircuit 310 in the example) provided between the first heat exchanger340 and the second heat exchanger 350.

The first refrigerant circuit 310 of the engine driven heat pump 100includes a discharge-side first refrigerant pipe 311 that is connectedto a discharge side of a compressor 120 that is driven by an engine 110,thereby sucking and discharging the refrigerant, a one-side firstrefrigerant pipe 312 that is connected to one side of a thirdrefrigerant pipe 331 on the one side of the third refrigerant circuit330, an other-side first refrigerant pipe 313 that is connected to athird refrigerant pipe 332 on the other side of the third refrigerantcircuit 330, an suction-side first refrigerant pipe 314 that isconnected to the suction side of the compressor 120, and a four-wayvalve 315. The four-way valve 315 is connected to the discharge-sidefirst refrigerant pipe 311, the one-side first refrigerant pipe 312, theother-side first refrigerant pipe 313, and the suction-side firstrefrigerant pipe 314, and the four-way valve 315 is switchable in such amanner that the refrigerant from the discharge-side first refrigerantpipe 311 is guided to the one-side first refrigerant pipe 312, and therefrigerant from the other-side first refrigerant pipe 313 is guided tothe suction-side first refrigerant pipe 314, or in such a manner thatthe refrigerant from the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe 311 isguided to the other-side first refrigerant pipe 313, and the refrigerantfrom the one-side first refrigerant pipe 312 is guided to thesuction-side first refrigerant pipe 314. The first heat exchanger 340 isprovided in the other-side first refrigerant pipe 313, and the expansionvalve 360 is provided between the first heat exchanger 340 and the thirdrefrigerant pipe 332 on the other side of the third refrigerant circuit330 with respect to the other-side first refrigerant pipe 313. Thesecond refrigerant circuit 320 of the heat exchange unit 200 includes asecond refrigerant pipe 321 connected to the third refrigerant pipe 331on the one side of the third refrigerant circuit 330 and the thirdrefrigerant pipe 332 on the other side of the third refrigerant circuit330. The second heat exchanger 350 is provided in the second refrigerantpipe 321.

With the above-mentioned constitution, when the heat exchange system 500is utilized for heating or hot-water supply (heating in the example),the four-way valve 315 is switched in such a manner that the refrigerantfrom the discharge-side first refrigerant pipe 311 is guided to theone-side first refrigerant pipe 312, and the refrigerant from theother-side first refrigerant pipe 313 is guided to the suction-sidefirst refrigerant pipe 314, and the low-temperature refrigerant isbrought into indirect contact with the open air or water via the firstheat exchanger 340 so as to absorb heat, and further the refrigerant iscompressed by the compressor 120 and brought up to a high temperature,and air in a room or water for hot-water supply (air in a room in theexample) is heated via the second heat exchanger 350. In contrast, whenthe heat exchange system 500 is utilized for air conditioning or coldstorage (air conditioning in the example), the four-way valve 315 isswitched in such a manner that the refrigerant from the discharge-sidefirst refrigerant pipe 311 is guided to the other-side first refrigerantpipe 313, and the refrigerant from the one-side first refrigerant pipe312 is guided to the suction-side first refrigerant pipe 314, and thehigh-temperature refrigerant is brought into indirect contact with theopen air and the like via the first heat exchanger 340 so as todischarge heat, and further the refrigerant is decompressed through theexpansion valve 360 and brought down to a low temperature, and the airin the room or a refrigerator (the room in the example) is cooled viathe second heat exchanger 350.

Also, regarding the heat exchange system 500, the engine driven heatpump 100, in which a generator 130 driven by an engine 110 is mounted,is used as a power supply device at the time of power failure of asystem E (specifically, commercial power supply), and the heat exchangesystem 500 further includes a self-sustaining switching device 400.

The self-sustaining switching device 400 includes a switching unit 410that switches operations on whether the system E and wiring attachmentconnectors PL such as an attachment plug or a wall socket in a house areconnected via wiring circuit breakers BK (breaker) or whether anindependent output unit 101 of the engine driven heat pump 100 and thewiring attachment connectors PL in the house are connected via thewiring circuit breakers BK.

In the present embodiment, the switching unit 410 automatically switchesfrom/to a system connection state where the system E and the wiringattachment connectors PL are connected when the system power is suppliedfrom the system E to/from a power-failure connection state where theindependent output unit 101 of the engine driven heat pump 100 and thewiring attachment connectors PL are connected when the power supply iscut off. It is noted that the switching unit 410 may switch the systemconnection state and the power-failure connection state in a manualmanner.

Also, the self-sustaining switching device 400 further includes atransformer 420. The transformer 420 transforms 200V system voltage to100V system voltage. The transformer 420 is provided on a connectingline between the wiring circuit breaker BK corresponding to the wiringattachment connector PL for the 200V system (connector connected to theheat exchange unit 200 in the example) and the wiring circuit breaker BKcorresponding to the wiring attachment connector PL for the 100V system(in the example, a connector connected to a general load Lo such as anilluminator or a television set that is usually used).

In the present embodiment, regarding the engine driven heat pump 100, amain body package 150 stores the engine 110 (a gas engine in theexample), the compressor 120 driven by the engine 110, the firstrefrigerant circuit 310 that flows the refrigerant sucked and dischargedby the compressor 120, and the generator 130 driven by the engine 110.Specifically, a driving force from the engine 110 is transmitted to thecompressor 120 via an electromagnetic clutch 121. The driving force fromthe engine 110 is transmitted to the generator 130 directly orindirectly via a driving transmission means not illustrated. It is notedthat the engine 110 is provided as a gas engine, but not limitedthereto. Engines except for the gas engine may be applied.

The engine driven heat pump 100 includes a self-sustaining power supplydevice 160 that includes an engine actuation battery 161 that suppliespower to an engine starter 140 (specifically, a starter motor) forstarting engine 110 and actuates the engine 110, a battery charger 162(one example of a battery charging circuit) that charges the engineactuation battery 161, and an inverter 163 (specifically, aself-sustaining inverter) that converts the output power from thegenerator 130 into a predetermined voltage and a predeterminedfrequency. In the present embodiment, the self-sustaining power supplydevice 160 further includes a starter relay 164. The starter relay 164is connected between the engine starter 140 and the engine actuationbattery 161 and configured to supply battery power from the engineactuation battery 161 to the engine starter 140.

Next, mounting structure, in which a member constituting theself-sustaining power supply device 160 is mounted on the engine drivenheat pump 100, will be described below referring to FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIG.3, and FIG. 4.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic constitutional views of the engine drivenheat pump 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 in a state where the exterior coverof a separate body package 170 is detached. FIG. 2A is a plan view ofthe engine driven heat pump 100, and FIG. 2B is a front view of theengine driven heat pump 100, and FIG. 2C is a right side view of theengine driven heat pump 100. Also, FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematicconstitutional views of the engine driven heat pump 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 in a state where the exterior cover of the main body package 150and the exterior cover of the separate body package 170 are detached.FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the engine driven heat pump 100 viewedfrom the front side, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the enginedriven heat pump 100 viewed from the back surface side.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, regarding the mainbody package 150, its external shape is formed in a hexahedron. In theexample, the main body package 150 is formed in a rectangularparallelepiped of which all the surfaces are formed in a rectangularshape.

Regarding the main body package 150, the area of a front surface 151,which is a front side at the time of installation, and the area of aback surface 152, which is a back side at the time of installation, arelarger than the area of a right-side surface 153, which is a sidesurface on the right side viewed from the front surface 151, the area ofa left-side surface 154, which is the side surface on the left sideviewed from the front surface 151, the area of a flat surface 155, whichis disposed on the upper side at the time of installation, and the areaof a bottom surface 156, which is disposed on the lower side at the timeof installation. Also, regarding the main body package 150, the area ofthe right-side surface 153 and the area of the left-side surface 154 arelarger than the area of the flat surface 155 and the area of the bottomsurface 156. Also, the front surface 151, the back surface 152, theright-side surface 153, and the left-side surface 154 of the main bodypackage 150 are extended in the up-and-down direction, and the flatsurface 155 and the bottom surface 156 of the main body package 150 areextended in the right-and-left direction. It is noted that, in theexample, the main body package 150 is formed in a rectangularparallelepiped of which all the surfaces are formed in a rectangularshape, but not limited thereto. A hexahedral shape, in which at leasttwo surfaces are formed in a square, may be applied.

Then, regarding the engine driven heat pump 100, the engine actuationbattery 161, the battery charger 162, the inverter 163, and the starterrelay 164, as members constituting the self-sustaining power supplydevice 160, are stored in the separate body package 170 that is separatefrom the main body package 150. The areas are constituted in such amanner that a front surface 171 (side surface on one side viewed fromthe front surface of the main body package 150) and a back surface 172(side surface on the other side viewed from the main body package 150)of the separate body package 170 are fitted into the right-side surface153 or the left-side surface 154 (the right-side surface 153 in theexample) of the main body package 150. It is noted that a battery unit180 is constituted by the self-sustaining power supply device 160 andthe separate body package 170.

Also, regarding the engine driven heat pump 100, the separate bodypackage 170 is provided on the side surface (the right-side surface 153in the example) near to the generator 130, out of the right-side surface153 and the left-side surface 154 of the main body package 150 andconfigured to be supported by the main body package 150.

In the present embodiment, regarding the separate body package 170, itsexternal shape is formed in a hexahedron. In the example, the separatebody package 170 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped of which allthe surfaces are formed in a rectangular shape.

Specifically, regarding the separate body package 170, the back surface172 is contiguous with the right-side surface 153 of the main bodypackage 150, and a distance L1 (see FIGS. 2A and 2C) in theright-and-left direction (front-and-back direction viewed from the frontsurface 151 of the main body package 150) of the front surface 171, theback surface 172, a flat surface 175 and a bottom surface 176 is equalto or smaller than (in the example, approximately 20 percent smallerthan) a distance L2 (see FIGS. 2A and 2C) of the front-and-backdirection (right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface 171 ofthe separate body package 170) of the right-side surface 153, theleft-side surface 154, the flat surface 155, and the bottom surface 156of the main body package 150. Also, regarding the separate body package170, a distance L3 (see FIGS. 2B and 2C) of the up-and-down direction ofthe front surface 171, the back surface 172, a right-side surface 173,and a left-side surface 174 is equal to or smaller than (in the example,approximately 20 percent smaller than) a half of a distance L4 in theup-and-down of the front surface 151, the back surface 152, theright-side surface 153, and the left-side surface 154 of the main bodypackage 150. Regarding the separate body package 170, the area of thefront surface 171 and the area of the back surface 172 are larger thanthe area of the right-side surface 173, the area of the left-sidesurface 174, the area of the flat surface 175, and the area of thebottom surface 176. Also, regarding the separate body package 170, thearea of the right-side surface 173 and the area of the left-side surface174 are larger than the area of the flat surface 175 and the area of thebottom surface 176. Also, the front surface 171, the back surface 172,the right-side surface 173, and the left-side surface 174 of theseparate body package 170 are extended in the up-and-down direction, andthe flat surface 175 and the bottom surface 176 of the separate bodypackage 170 are extended in the right-and-left direction (front-and-backdirection viewed from the front surface 151 of the main body package150). It is noted that, in the example, the separate body package 170 isformed in a rectangular parallelepiped of which all the surfaces areformed in a rectangular shape, but not limited thereto. A hexahedralshape, in which at least two surfaces are formed in a square, may beapplied.

Specifically, the separate body package 170 is disposed in the centralportion in the front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface151 of the main body package 150 (right-and-left direction viewed fromthe front surface 171 of the separate body package 170). Regarding theseparate body package 170, the back surface 172 is supported by theright-side surface 153 of the main body package 150 (see FIGS. 2B and2C). Also, in the separate body package 170, the starter relay 164 isprovided on one side (the left side in the example: the front sideviewed from the front surface 151 of the main body package 150) in theright-and-left direction (front-and-back direction viewed from the frontsurface 151 of the main body package 150) of an upper portion, and thebattery charger 162 is provided at the central portion (the centralportion in the front-and-back direction viewed from the front surface151 of the main body package 150) in the right-and-left direction of theupper portion, and the inverter 163 is provided on the other side (theright side in the example: the back side viewed from the front surface151 of the main body package 150) in the right-and-left direction of theupper portion, and the engine actuation battery 161 is provided belowthese members.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the engine110 and the generator 130, and the refrigerant circuit (the firstrefrigerant circuit 310 in the example) are separated in such a manneras to be arranged on the right and left of the engine driven heat pump100.

In the engine driven heat pump 100, the engine 110 and the generator 130are arranged on the right side or the left side in the right-and-leftdirection viewed from the front surface 151 (the right side in theexample), and the first refrigerant circuit 310 is arranged on the leftside or the right side in the right-and-left direction viewed from thefront surface 151 (the left side in the example).

Specifically, in the engine driven heat pump 100, on the lower side andon the front surface 151 side (see FIG. 3), a first arrangement area 150a where the engine 110 and the engine starter 140 are arranged isprovided on the right side or on the left side in the right-and-leftdirection viewed from the front surface (the right side in the example),and a second arrangement area 150 b where the compressor 120 and thefirst refrigerant circuit 310 are arranged is provided at the centralportion in the right-and-left direction, and a third arrangement area150 c where electrical components 10 such as a control unit and a powersupply circuit are arranged is provided on the right side or on the leftside in the right-and-left direction viewed from the front surface (theleft side in the example). Also, in the engine driven heat pump 100, onthe lower side and on the back surface 152 side (see FIG. 4), a fourtharrangement area 150 d where the generator 130 is arranged is providedon the right side or on the left side in the right-and-left directionviewed from the front surface (the right side in the example), and afifth arrangement area 150 e where the first refrigerant circuit 310, areceiver 370, and a waste heat recovery device 380 are arranged isprovided on the right side or on the left side in the right-and-leftdirection viewed from the front surface (the left side in the example).Also, on the upper portion of the main body package 150, a plurality ofoutdoor fans 211 (cooling fans) (two fans in the example) are arrangedside by side in the right-and-left direction, and the first heatexchanger 340 is provided between the outdoor fans 211 and the centralportion in the up-and-down direction.

Incidentally, it is conceivable that the main body package 150 and theseparate body package 170 are independently provided in a separatemanner, and if so, installation work is required when the engine drivenheat pump 100 is installed, and wiring work is required for thegenerator 130 and the engine starter 140 that starts the engine 110,which deteriorates the operability of installation work. Also, when theseparate body package 170 is provided on the side surface far from thegenerator 130, out of the right-side surface 153 and the left-sidesurface 154 of the main body package 150, it is likely that a wiringdistance from the generator 130 and the engine starter 140 to theself-sustaining power supply device 160 becomes longer.

In this regard, according to the engine driven heat pump 100 of thepresent embodiment, the separate body package 170, which stores theengine actuation battery 161 that actuates the engine 110, the batterycharger 162 that acts as a battery charging circuit for charging theengine actuation battery 161, and the inverter 163 (a memberconstituting the self-sustaining power supply device 160) that convertsthe output power from the generator 130 into a predetermined voltage anda predetermined frequency, is supported by the main body package 150, sothat the separate body package 170 can integrally be formed with themain body package 150, and accordingly, the installation work for theseparate body package 170 at the time of installation of the enginedriven heat pump 100 can be omitted, and the wiring work for thegenerator 130 and the engine starter 140 can be omitted, which makes itpossible to improve the operability of the installation work as much.Also, the separate body package 170 is provided on the side surface nearto the generator 130, out of the right-side surface 153 and theleft-side surface 154 of the main body package 150, a wiring distancebetween the self-sustaining power supply device 160 and the generator130 or between the self-sustaining power supply device 160 and theengine starter 140 can be shortened as much as possible.

Incidentally, when lines from the separate body package 170 to thegenerator 130 and the engine starter 140 are passed through thearrangement space of the first refrigerant circuit 310, there is anapprehension that the dew condensation water of the first refrigerantcircuit 310 is attached to the lines.

In this regard, regarding the constitution in which the separate bodypackage 170 is provided on the side surface near to the generator 130,out of the right-side surface 153 and the left-side surface 154 of themain body package 150, the engine 110 and the generator 130, and thefirst refrigerant circuit 310 that acts as a refrigerant circuit areseparately arranged right and left, so that the separate body package170 can be wired to engine starter 140 and the generator 130 whileavoiding the arrangement space of the first refrigerant circuit 310,which makes it possible to prevent the dew condensation water of thefirst refrigerant circuit 310 from being attached to the lines.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments,but can be executed in various forms. Accordingly, the embodimentsdisclosed above are mere exemplification in all the aspects, but shallnot be regarded as the basis of limitative interpretation. The scope ofthe present invention shall be defined based on Claims, not restrictedby the main paragraph of Description. Furthermore, all the modificationsand changes, which are included within the scope of the equivalents toClaims, are included in the scope of the present invention.

1. An engine driven heat pump, comprising: an engine; a compressorconfigured to be driven by the engine; a refrigerant circuit configuredto flow a refrigerant sucked and discharged by the compressor; agenerator configured to be driven by the engine; a main body packageconfigured to store the engine, the compressor, the refrigerant circuit,and the generator; an engine actuation battery configured to actuate theengine; a battery charging circuit configured to charge the engineactuation battery; and an inverter configured to convert output powerfrom the generator into a predetermined voltage and a predeterminedfrequency, a separate body package configured to store the engineactuation battery, the battery charging circuit, and the inverter, theseparate body package being a separate body with respect to the mainbody package, wherein a front surface and a back surface of the separatebody package is made up of an area in such a manner as to fit in a sidesurface of the main body package, and the separate body package isprovided on a side surface near to the generator, out of side surfacesof the main body package and supported by the main body package.
 2. Theengine driven heat pump according to claim 1, wherein the engine and thegenerator, and the refrigerant circuit are separated in such a manner asbe arranged right and left viewed from a front surface of the main bodypackage.